Motorola Edge 20 Pro vs. Edge 30 Pro: The Ultimate Showdown

Motorola's Edge series consistently delivers impressive specs and features at competitive prices. The Edge 20 Pro and Edge 30 Pro are two strong contenders, but which one deserves your money? This comprehensive comparison will delve into every aspect, from display quality to camera performance, to help you make an informed decision.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Edge 30 Pro offers a significant upgrade with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, faster charging, and a slightly brighter display. While the 20 Pro boasts exceptional battery life, the 30 Pro's overall performance and modern features make it the clear winner for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Edge 20 Pro	Motorola Edge 30 Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	-	2, 5, 7, 12, 25, 26, 29, 30, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2021, July 29	2022, January 24
Status	Available. Released 2021, August 16	Available. Released 2022, March 04

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) or eco leather back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions	163 x 76 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)	163.1 x 76 x 8.8 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	185/190 g (depending on color) (6.53 oz)	196 g (6.91 oz)
	Water-repellent design	Water-repellent design

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+	OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 730
OS	Android 11, planned upgrade to Android 13	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/3.4, 126mm (periscope telephoto), 1.0µm, 5x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF Auxiliary lens
Video	8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/960fps, gyro-EIS	8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm	60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4	USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	-	Ready For support

Battery
Charging	30W wired	68W wired, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4800 mAh

Misc
Colors	Midnight Blue, Blue Vegan Leather, Iridescent Cloud	Cosmos Blue, Stardust White
Models	XT2153-1	XT2201-1
Price	About 330 EUR	€ 475.45

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 112h	Endurance rating 80h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-29.2 LUFS (Average)	-24.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 711090 (v9) GeekBench: 3140 (v5.1) GFXBench: 49fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 941895 (v9) GeekBench: 3658 (v5.1) GFXBench: 78fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Motorola Edge 20 Pro

Exceptional battery life
Reliable Snapdragon 870 chipset
Excellent value (potentially lower price)
Good display quality

Older chipset
Slower charging
Potentially less impressive camera

Motorola Edge 30 Pro

Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 performance
Fast 68W wired charging
Slightly brighter display
Modern design
Wireless charging (including reverse wireless)

Shorter battery life
Can run hotter under heavy load
Potentially higher price

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays with excellent contrast (Infinite nominal). The Edge 30 Pro edges out the 20 Pro with a slightly higher peak brightness of 685 nits versus 673 nits, resulting in marginally better outdoor visibility. Both offer smooth scrolling thanks to high refresh rates (likely 144Hz).

Camera Comparison

While both offer capable camera systems, the Edge 30 Pro generally delivers improved image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The 30 Pro often features a higher resolution main sensor (likely 50MP vs 108MP on the 20 Pro, though this can vary by region) and potentially improved image processing algorithms. Video recording capabilities are also likely enhanced on the 30 Pro.

Performance

The Edge 30 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Edge 20 Pro's Snapdragon 870 (7nm). Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. The 8 Gen 1's efficiency improvements are noticeable, despite the battery trade-off.

Battery Life

The Edge 20 Pro shines in this category, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 112 hours. The Edge 30 Pro's rating of 80 hours is still respectable, but noticeably lower. However, the 30 Pro's 68W wired charging significantly reduces charging times, offering a much faster top-up experience.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Motorola Edge 20 Pro? Users prioritizing exceptional battery life and a proven, reliable chipset (Snapdragon 870) at a potentially lower price point. Who should buy the Motorola Edge 30 Pro? Those seeking top-tier performance, faster charging, and a more modern design, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Motorola Edge 30 Pro worth the upgrade from the Edge 20 Pro?

If performance and charging speed are priorities, then yes. The 8 Gen 1 chipset and 68W charging offer a significant improvement. However, if battery life is your main concern, the 20 Pro remains a strong contender.

❓ Does the Edge 30 Pro get hot?

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can run hotter than the 870, especially during intensive tasks. Motorola has likely implemented thermal management solutions, but it's something to be aware of.